Bristol nursing home suspends admissions after inspectors act on concerns

The owners of a Bristol nursing home have been told they must take immediate action to improve standards of care – or face legal enforcement action.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission found that Sunnymead Manor nursing home in Southmead was failing to meet six of the essential standards of quality and safety.   

Their report, which is published today, identifies concerns with cleanliness and infection control, management of medicines, care and welfare of people and a number of staffing issues.  

CQC has now given the provider, Mimosa Healthcare Ltd, seven days to produce plans to show how it intends to achieve compliance. By law, providers of care services have a legal responsibility to make sure they are meeting the essential standards of quality and safety.

The inspectors visited the home in response to concerns which were first raised with the NHS by a member of staff at the home.   Bristol City Council suspended referrals to the home and the NHS Bristol sent in a clinical team to assess residents.   Since then CQC has been working with the NHS, Bristol City Council and other agencies under safeguarding procedures to ensure the safety of all residents.

The CQC inspection team reviewed information on the home, talked to staff and residents, checked records and conducted a detailed observation of dementia care.

Their report says that the state of the home and its furnishings suggested a complete lack of respect and dignity for the people living there.   Concerns included: 
•    People with dementia being ignored despite repeated calls for help
•    People who had food on their face and clothing, who were not supported to clean themselves. 
•    All bedrooms seen had poor, offensive odours and stained carpets and flooring
•    Chairs and furnishings stained and badly ingrained with dirt
•    Morning medication was still being given to residents in the lounge of the dementia unit at 11:15 am
•    No evidence of  clinical training for staff in management of wound care  and infection control

Ian Biggs, Regional Director of CQC in the South West said his staff would now monitor Sunnymead Manor closely, and would be prepared to take further action if it becomes necessary.

“The care at Sunnymead fell far short of the standards people have a right to expect. It is even more disturbing when you consider that many of the residents here are frail, vulnerable people who are the least able to complain about the poor and unhygienic environment, even though this is their permanent residence. 

“We found clear evidence that the home is not maintaining essential standards of cleanliness, with the risk that staff and residents are exposed to healthcare associated infection.

“We need to ensure that people living at the home are not at any immediate risk of harm, which is why we have been working closely with the city council, NHS Bristol and others under the safeguarding procedures.    If there was evidence that people were at risk, we would take further action. 

“We have received an immediate undertaking from Mimosa Healthcare that they will not admit any more people to this nursing home while these improvements are being addressed.    Until then they must send us a weekly report on their actions.

“The law says these are the standards that everyone should be able to expect when they receive care. Providers have a duty to ensure they are compliant – or face the consequences. 

“Our inspectors will return to Sunnymead in the near future and if we find that the home is not making progress we won’t hesitate to use our legal powers on behalf of the people who live there.”